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You’re out of lunch ideas. PBJ quickly became boring and school lunches are far from healthy.
Thousands of parents face this problem, on a daily basis. They can’t ignore it, but they don’t have the energy to think too much about it either.
Parents need lunch ideas for kids, every. single. day!
You may not have a problem planning out dinners and breakfasts. But lunch?
For some reason, on most days I run out of lunch ideas, too. I listen to my kids who let me know on a minute by minute basis how hungry they are. Like I didn’t know.
Lunch ideas for kids also need to be nutritious and filling, otherwise you can start over again in an hour when kids start the begging again (and it isn’t time for snacks yet.)
Often times I opt for leftovers because we homeschool, but I still need lunch ideas that are healthy when we are out during the day or didn’t have leftovers.
And for parents who work and kids who go to school, the struggle is real. There are so many unique situations and so many variables one has to think of when packing lunches.
My goal is to help you become the best parent you can be, so I feel compelled to help reduce the stress lunch time means for parents.
I present to you the best lunch ideas for busy parents who are ready for a fresh start. They will bring relief to your busy parenting days.
Who Are These Lunch Ideas For
Do you send your kids to school with a lunch box? I got some fresh ideas for you!
Have a kid with allergies? Meal options ahead!
Do you homeschool and need to get out of the PBJ rut? Great options below!
Do you struggle to provide yourself a good lunch? I got ya too!
How about some tips on how to delegate lunch making duties to kids? Scroll down for answers!
Whatever your situation may be, there’s a match for everyone among these lunch ideas! Enjoy!
1. Bento Box Lunch Ideas
Celebrating Sweets has an awesome post on healthy lunches for kids (and adults). Her Bentos are packed full or simple but nutritious lunches that you can put on repeat.
2. The Ultimate Lunch Packing System
Kim Six Fix came up with a smart system in order to delegate making lunches to her (older) kids. She divided the food up into groups and her kids pick one of each. Sounds pretty smart to me!
This is an easy way to adapt if you have food allergies, or sending lunch to school where there are restriction on what you can pack. Since the lunches are made up of individually packed items, some of which are store bought, you can just substitute whatever work for you.
3. Sandwich-less Lunch Ideas
Found on What Lisa Cooks, these are wonderful options for non sandwich lunches if you are sick and tired of PBJ every day! She even has a few gluten free options listed.
4. Pack A Thermos For Lunch
Found on Keeley McGuire’s blog, find out the tricks of packing a warm lunch in a thermos and get recipes as well! This works well for leftovers too.
Always keep uncured hot-dogs on hand, I freeze mine. When you’re in a pinch, you can heat some and cut it up, pack them in the thermos with a side of bread and ketchup, and lunch is done.
5. Lunch Prep Ahead
Happy MoneySaver dishes on how she makes her kids’ lunches ahead of time, then stores them in the fridge for easy assembly.
If you’ve already joined the meal prep bandwagon, you may as well add lunche ideas to your list. It’s an easy way to remember to make them since you’re already cooking ahead anyways.
6. Lunch Making Station
Design Improvised came up with a way to have a lunch packing station, complete with lunch containers, water bottles and non perishable snacks, conveniently next to her fridge.
7. Vegan Lunch Ideas
If you are looking for a few simple vegan lunch ideas, Glue and Glitter will give you just that!
8. Grown-UpGraded Lunch Ideas
Find adult upgrades on school lunches at Lonny.com. My favorite grown up versions are the chicken lettuce wraps and pasta in a jar. Yum!
9. Independent Lunch Packing For Kids
Rage Against the Minivan put together a checklist to help make balanced lunches each day, avoiding getting into a rut. It would make a great printable for kids in order to foster independence.
These are lunch ideas that come together quickly and can take a great deal off your shoulder.
10. YumBox Lunch Ideas
Here are 125 more ideas on how to pack a Yumbox with food your kids will actually love. Found on Holley Grainger’s blog, this post also contains a handy printable.
11. Super Healthy Lunch Ideas
For the health conscious moms who want to make lunch ideas healthy too, not just quick, I recommend Kristine’s Kitchen’s post on 10 healthy school lunches.
12. More Thermos Lunch Goodies
My Mommy Style offers more tips and smart lunch ideas packed in a thermos. My favorites are those cute and colorful silicone cupcake liners they put side dishes in!
13. Nut Free Lunch Ideas
Stuffed Suitcase offers 40 weeks of nut free lunches, in case your child is allergic or attends a nut-free school. It’s great to have alternatives to peanut butter!
14. Grain/Gluten Free Lunch Ideas
Is your child gluten or grain free? What Lisa Cooks has you covered with two weeks worth of lunch ideas.
15. Lunch Box Notes For Happy Kids
Sometimes, all you need is a little fun in order to feel close to your kids and let them know you love them. The Dating Divas collected 48 note ideas that you can print and pack in your child’s lunchbox along with the food!
16. Lunch Box Hacks You’ve Never Thought Of
Passion for Savings has 36 awesome lunch hacks, for example using frozen sponges as ice packs or the surprise birthday lunch box.
17. Allergy Friendly Lunch To School Ideas
Keeley McGuire does it again with great gluten and allergy-free lunchbox recommendations. It’s no easy feat packing a lunch for an allergic child, but with the tuna balls, “Puffins” or the veggie nuggets she mentions, you are sure to find some ideas to help!
If you are looking for some great lunch packing tools, try Easy Lunchboxes (not leak-proof!) or check out the many versions of Yumbox (leak proof).
Did you love these lunch ideas? Please help out your friends by sharing!
